The loss of a loved one – a parent, spouse, child, relative or friend – can be soul-crushing, and for some, grief does not fade easily. Grief, a natural response to losing someone close, is often described as coming in waves: one moment, a person may feel fine, only to find themselves feeling low and crying the next. Long-lasting grief, particularly Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD), can affect health in ways that are difficult to quantify.
According to Psychiatry.org, An individual with prolonged grief disorder (PGD) may experience intense longing for the person who has died and/or feelings of being preoccupied by thoughts of the death of that person. In children and adolescents, the preoccupation may focus on the circumstances of the death. Additionally, the surviving individual may experience feelings of being in shock or disbelief about the death, of insecurity and uncertainty about where they fit into a world without the deceased person, which often undermines their sense of belonging, meaning, purpose, and self in the survivorship experience. PGD is associated with poorer mental health, sleep problems, physical symptoms, chronic disease, higher healthcare use, and increased mortality risk.
A 2021 study revealed that 63% of adults with prolonged grief also met criteria for depression, while 54% experienced anxiety and 49% showed signs of post-traumatic stress. The overlap suggests that grief affects more than emotions—it alters biology.
Researchers have identified measurable physical changes linked to PGD. An analysis of 18 studies in 2025 found strong connections between prolonged grief and chronic conditions, including insomnia, hypertension, and somatic symptoms without clear medical causes. Thirteen of those studies showed moderate or strong links to chronic disease, though some findings weakened when accounting for other mental health factors.
Sleep disturbances play a key role. Bereaved parents in a 2026 study reported that insomnia and prolonged grief often appeared together, though researchers could not determine which developed first. Disrupted sleep worsens emotional distress, creating a self-perpetuating cycle.
Biological markers also shift. A 2025 review of 12 studies found altered cortisol levels, increased inflammation, and immune system dysfunction in individuals with pathological grief. These changes resemble those seen in chronic stress, indicating that grief is not just psychological but also physiological.
What Triggers Prolonged Grief Disorder?
The causes of PGD remain unclear. Unlike depression, which has identifiable risk factors, prolonged grief depends on a combination of relationship depth, death circumstances, pre-existing health conditions, and social support, or its absence. Losing a child or spouse carries a higher risk than losing a distant relative. Sudden, violent, or unexpected deaths also intensify the disorder, eroding a person’s sense of safety.
Social isolation worsens outcomes. Those with weaker support networks fare poorly, as do individuals facing ongoing stress, such as financial hardship, family conflict, or community instability. A 2026 cross-sectional study of 332 bereaved adults found that higher grief symptoms correlated with greater loneliness, poorer perceived health, and a diminished sense of life’s meaning. Reduced meaning statistically explained these connections, suggesting grief has existential dimensions.
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Caregivers experience different strains. Emotional closeness to the deceased and pre-loss psychological distress predict persistent grief, but caregiving alone does not consistently drive PGD. The nature of the relationship matters more than the role.
The Limits of Simple Grief Solutions
PGD resists simple solutions. Unlike a broken bone, grief cannot be treated with a single intervention. Some find relief in therapy, others in writing letters to the deceased, or simply discussing their loss.
A 2026 study of bereaved parents showed that prolonged grief often appeared as intrusive thoughts about the circumstances of their child’s death, even years later. Participants described replaying final moments in vivid detail or fixating on preventable factors, such as missed medical appointments or unanswered calls.
Treatment approaches for PGD vary, but structured therapies show the most consistent results. This therapy helps individuals process loss, reduce avoidance behaviors, and reconnect with life without the deceased.
Grief’s Hidden Toll on the Body
Researchers have documented links between prolonged grief and physical health. A 2026 study found associations between prolonged-grief measures and chronic disease in a sample of adults, though further analysis weakened these connections when accounting for other factors. The findings suggest that while grief may influence health, it does not independently cause chronic illness.
Biological markers also reflect changes during pathological grief. A 2025 review of biomarker studies identified disrupted cortisol rhythms, raised pro-inflammatory cytokines, and immune-system irregularities.
Socioeconomic factors may play a role in prolonged grief. Lower income and educational attainment are linked to slightly higher levels of prolonged grief symptoms, though the relationship remains modest. The emotional toll of grief can also vary depending on the depth of the relationship and the circumstances of the loss.
Grief’s Impact on Health and Biology
Further research will continue to shed light on grief’s far-reaching effects beyond emotional, physical and mental well-being. Persistent grief is associated with depression, anxiety, loneliness, insomnia and poorer perceived health, as well as somatic distress, chronic disease, blood-pressure changes and sleep disruption. Preliminary biological studies also suggest changes in stress hormones, inflammation and immune regulation, although findings remain varied. There are various ways, from therapy to free communication and practical activities to help one cope from grief and handle thru a difficult time of loss.
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